Hometeam: Cougars' rushing takes down Ware

By Carl Setterlund, CORRESPONDENT

Wednesday

Nov 27, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 28, 2013 at 12:07 AM

WARE — Quaboag junior Erik McCormick had what would have been a 70-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage called back due to an illegal block, but the opening play foreshadowed the type of running space the Cougars' offensive line would create Wednesday against Ware .

After losing six of its first seven games, Quaboag's fifth-year program turned the corner over the last four, winning for the third time in November as the visiting Cougars rolled to a 34-6 Thanksgiving Eve victory.

"I think the program is headed in a positive direction," said Quaboag coach Dave Shepherd, who has led the team since it went varsity in 2009. The victory added to a program-best win total as the Cougars finished 4-7.

McCormick was named Quaboag's MVP after rushing 20 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns, and going over 1,000 yards for the season.

"I just tried as hard as I could," said McCormick, who was battling a knee injury. "It hurt pretty bad, but I just wanted to win this for the team."

Rugged senior Steven Tabor took over primary running back duties in the second half and finished with 15 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns.

Tabor and mammoth lineman Nathan Potter, a 6-foot-7, 300-pounder, are the Cougars' only graduating seniors, but they'll miss both. Potter was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, and Tabor also had a fumble recovery.

"I was glad to see both the seniors get to go out on a high note," Shepherd said. "Tabor is just a tough kid running the ball, he's tough to tackle, and Potter's always the biggest kid on the field and he had a tremendous game."

The Cougars nearly had a shutout before allowing Ware senior Zered McCoy to take it in from 14 yards with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Ware (5-6) won last year, 46-8, and still leads the series, 3-2.

The visitors ate up six minutes on a 12-play opening drive, all running plays. McCormick got half of those touches and was rewarded with the opening touchdown, taking a pitch to the right and going in from 4 yards.

Classmate Devonta Parker was turned back on the conversion run, leaving the score 6-0 with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Quaboag forced a three-and-out on each of Ware's first two drives as early drizzles turned into full-out downpours. That caused a botched snap on fourth down, which senior captain Steven Tabor recovered at the Ware 41.

The Cougars ran into trouble with an offensive holding call on the fourth play of the ensuing drive, but Shepherd called a timeout and drew up a play.

Sophomore QB Tyler Wade let it fly on the next play, throwing to Shawn Dunn for a 32-yard score on Quaboag's only passing play of the game.

"We were going to run it a little bit earlier, but then it started pouring, so we held it in the pocket for a few more plays," Shepherd said. "We just they were putting nine, 10 guys in the box, so we figured we could get one over the top."

McCormick took it 38 yards on the first play, following his blockers to go in virtually untouched with 13 seconds left in the second quarter.

The third time was the charm on the conversion run, as this time the Cougars called on the reliable McCormick to make it 20-0 going into the break.

Ware decided to go for it one fourth-and-2 from their own 46 on the opening possession of the second half.

The move backfired, though, as the Cougars made the stop to take over, and then turned the short field into their fourth touchdown drive.

After a lengthy injury stoppage, Tabor plowed three yards up the middle to increase the lead to 26-0 with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

Quaboag put together a second 12-play drive to take up a seven-minute chunk of time late in the game. Tabor, broke several tackles en route to a 20-yard scoring run with 3:35 left to play. Parker's conversion capped the Cougars' scoring.

"It was a great game overall," said Tabor, content with his final game. "I'm proud of my team and we just stuck together. Our whole motto the second half of the season was just to be a family and I feel like we've really done that this year."

Contact Carl Setterlund at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.

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